(filed June 11, 2026)
U.S. v. Commonwealth of Virginia, et al. - The Trump Administration sued the state of Virginia over its sanctuary laws. The government challenges certain sections of Virginia’s Senate Bill 32 that prohibit federal officers from wearing facial coverings while performing official duties and require them to identify themselves. The law imposes misdemeanor criminal penalties for violations and does not exempt federal officers. Lastly, the government challenges Virginia’s Senate Bill 783 and HB 1441 that were signed into law on April 22, 2026, which imposes new conditions on current and new future 287(g) agreements. The new conditions include identification requirements, restrictions on where immigration enforcement may be conducted, and requirements to provide the names and ranks of all federal agents involved in any immigration enforcement activity. The government alleges the enacted laws unconstitutionally regulate and interfere with federal law enforcement. On June 30, 2026, the court preliminarily enjoined the mask/identity law, concluding that the government was likely to show that Virginia could not impose additional masking and identification requirements on federal officers performing federal duties. The court relied on evidence of doxxing, threats, assaults, and interference with undercover and surveillance operations. Virginia appealed that ruling on July 6, 2026, and, after the district court denied a stay, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denied Virginia’s stay request on September 3, 2026, leaving the block in place while the appeal proceeds (No. 26-1874). Separately, on August 31, 2026, the court preliminarily enjoined enforcement of most of the 287(g) law, while permitting Virginia to continue prohibiting localities that had never entered into a 287(g) agreement from entering one for the first time. On September 8, 2026, Virginia filed a second appeal to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (No. 26-2258) pertaining to the 287(g) law. On September 17, 2026, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals consolidated both cases, with No. 26-1874 as the lead case. The federal case is ongoing.